Phonophobia: Lose the fear of noises |

Phonophobia causes you to have an uncontrollable fear with noises. Find out how to overcome them.

What is Phonophobia?

It is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by fear and anxiety about noises or sounds. Therefore, it is a disorder and not a hearing disease.

People with phonophobia are scared when they hear the change in volume of a sound. That is why fear of certain devices that emit loud sounds can arise.

People with phonophobia live with the uncontrollable fear of episodes of loud noises being repeated with a certain frequency. For example, hearing the sound of an airplane, the telephone ringing, screams, gunshots, thunder, whistling, and even common noises made by neighbors.

It is important to recognize when it is phonophobia and when the fear generated by a loud sound is normal.

Phobia is characterized by a feeling of uncontrollable anxiety when exposed to the source of your fear.

Causes of phonophobia

This disorder can be caused by a combination of different factors, such as environmental, emotional and environmental factors. However, some people may be more prone to phonophobia because they have a greater sensitivity to sounds or traumatic experiences.

Symptoms:

Symptoms may vary from person to person. Below you will see the most common ones:

Episodes of anxiety.
Irrational fear of loud noises.
Panic attacks.
Mood swings due to unexpected noise.
Excessive sweating.
Changes in heart rate.
Nausea and dizziness.
Sudden need to escape.
Psychological effects include stress, insomnia, irritability, depressive symptoms. It also includes lack of concentration and decreased performance at work, etc.

Recommendations:

Overcoming phonophobia may require time and effort. However, it is possible to achieve this with the right help. Consequently, with techniques or implementation of therapies, the disorder can be overcome.

Relaxation techniques.
Practices such as breathing exercises.
Meditation and progressive muscle relaxation. In this way, people can be helped to control anxiety when faced with loud noises.

Other Recommendations that can help:

Seek professional help. In this case, a Audiology Specialist.
Sharing your experiences with other people who suffer from this disorder can be of great help and support.
Be patient.

Treatment:

There is currently no specific treatment to cure phonophobia. However, there are different therapies that help people cope with the symptoms associated with this fear.
Exposure therapy: involves progressively exposing the ear to loud noises. This is applied until the fear and anxiety diminish.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy: involves providing the patient with tools that transform their negative thoughts into positive ones. In this way, they will be able to cope with anxiety.
As a result, we have that cognitive behavioral therapy helps people change their negative perceptions and beliefs about sounds, while exposure therapy involves gradually exposing oneself to the feared sounds in a safe and controlled environment.
Both techniques can be combined with some drugs. But always with professional help and a medical prescription, to combat stress processes.

Examples of noises that cause phonophobia:

Rocket explosions
Balloon explosions
Fire alarms. Also car alarms.
Telephone ringing and loud traffic noise.
The sound produced by landing airplanes.

Phonophobia is therefore an irrational and excessive fear of noise. But the good news is that there are possibilities to overcome the disorder, with therapy and a lot of patience. This way, you can enjoy a fuller life free of anxiety.